Apocalypse 18:1-8

1 Après cela, je vis descendre du ciel un autre ange, qui avait un grand pouvoir. La terre fut éclairée de sa gloire.

2 Et il cria avec force et à grande voix, et dit: Elle est tombée, elle est tombée, Babylone la grande, et elle est devenue la demeure des démons, et le repaire de tout esprit immonde, et le repaire de tout oiseau immonde et horrible.

3 Car toutes les nations ont bu du vin de la fureur de sa fornication, et les rois de la terre se sont prostitués avec elle; et les marchands de la terre se sont enrichis de l'abondance de son luxe.

4 Puis j'entendis une autre voix du ciel, qui disait: Sortez du milieu d'elle, mon peuple; de peur que, participant à ses péchés, vous n'ayez aussi part à ses plaies;

5 Car ses péchés sont montés jusqu'au ciel et Dieu s'est souvenu de ses iniquités.

6 Traitez-la comme elle vous a traités, rendez-lui au double ce qu'elle vous a fait. Dans la même coupe où elle vous a versé, versez-lui au double.

7 Autant elle s'est enorgueillie et s'est plongée dans les délices, autant faites-lui souffrir de tourment et d'affliction, parce qu'elle dit en son cœur: Je suis assise en reine, je ne suis point veuve, et je ne verrai point le deuil.

8 C'est pourquoi ses plaies, la mort, le deuil et la famine viendront en un même jour, et elle sera consumée par le feu; car le Seigneur Dieu qui la juge, est puissant.

Apocalypse 18:1-8 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO REVELATION 18

This chapter gives an account of the fall of Babylon, and of the lamentation of many, and of the joy of others, by reason of it; which account is published by several angels: the first that declares her fall is described by his original, descending from heaven; by the great power he had; by his resplendent glory, and by his mighty cry in publishing her destruction; which is illustrated by the desolate condition she will be in upon her fall; the reasons of which are given, became the nations and kings of the earth had committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth were enriched by her luxury, Re 18:1-3. Another voice is heard from heaven, calling upon the people of God, first to come out of her, lest partaking of her sins they should share in her plagues, seeing her iniquities had reached to heaven, and were remembered before God; and next to take full vengeance on her, because she had glorified herself, lived deliciously, and in great security, Re 18:4-7. And then follows a continuation of the account of her destruction, what her plagues would be, death, mourning, famine, and fire; and which would be sudden, in one hour, and certain, from the power and justice of God, Re 18:8. Next follow the lamentations of the kings, merchants, and masters of ships, because of her greatness, riches, and merchandise, which are all come to nothing, Re 18:9-19. And then the church; the saints, apostles, and prophets, are called upon to rejoice at the vengeance taken on her, Re 18:20 upon which a mighty angel appears, who by an action signifies the manner of her destruction, and the irrecoverableness of her state and condition, Re 18:21 and declares her utter ruin, by affirming that nothing that was either delightful or profitable, or necessary or comfortable, should any more be found in her; giving the reasons of it, because of her luxury, idolatry, and bloodshed, Re 18:22-24.